Jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili described President Salome Zourabichvili’s unity initiative as “spinning around the same circle.” Saakashvili said if he were in the president’s place, he would relocate the “public platform” to the streets.

“It is not time for mere talks now but acting, elaborating concrete proposals, involvement of the civic sector, representatives of non-government organizations, political parties, businesspersons and government offices,” he said, adding free elections were vital for the country.

“I am not going to counsel the acting president. I just say that if I were in her place, I would relocate the public platform to the streets. Meeting the same people in the building is going around a circle. Freedom Square was made smaller to reduce the space. The Hippodrome, which is a familiar place for Mrs Salome, practically no longer exists, but there is Rustaveli, which can be filled. If she accepts the initiative, we will support her,” Mikheil Saakashvili said.

In her annual report, delivered in the parliament on February 6, President Salome Zourabichvili said: “The country needs peace, protection. Therefore, from this floor, I propose a way and the formula from this deadlock, the creation of a future charter – Unity Platform for Europe.”